《TAIPEI TIMES》You leads delegation to Japan’s Yonaguni Island

‘VERY EXCITED’: You Si-kun called for the establishment of a ferry line to Yonaguni, saying that it would boost tourist numbers in Yilan County

Staff writer, with CNA

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Legislative Yuan Speaker You Si-kun （游錫?） on Tuesday arrived in Japan’s Yonaguni Island to promote parliamentary and tourism exchanges between the two countries.

You is leading a 100-member delegation, including Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung （張錫聰）, Yilan County Commissioner Lin Zi-miao （林姿妙）, and local travel agents and medical service providers.

“I felt like going on an excursion, very excited,” You told reporters before leaving Yilan County’s Suao Township （蘇澳） for Yonaguni.

There is no regular ferry services between Suao and Yonaguni, but You said he hopes his visit could lay the foundation for such services and other travel packages between the two destinations for Taiwanese and Japanese tourists.

If only 1 percent of the 2 million Japanese tourists who visit Taiwan each year take a Suao-Yonaguni ferry, it would significantly boost tourism in Yilan, You said.

Yonaguni is Japan’s closest island to Taiwan, lying only 110km east of Yilan.

In Yonaguni, You was to meet with Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, who is also chairman of the Japan-Republic of China Diet Members’ Consultative Council.

The delegation traveled to Yonaguni on a cruise liner operated by North & South Shipping Co. The journey took two hours.

Yonaguni covers 29km2 and has a population of 1,700 people as well as a well-preserved natural environment.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES